Anti-bacterial wet-paper shield toilet seat covers

ABSTRACT

As a result of market testing the prototype on the job, in school, in the park, and at the gas station, there is no doubt that Anti-Bacterial Wet-Paper Shield Toilet Seat Covers serve as a reliable sanitary barrier between the unsanitary environment of public toilet seats and the bare skin of the person using the toilet. When used as directed, Anti-Bacterial Wet-Paper Shield Toilet Seat Covers provide a comfortable and protective sanitary surface to sit on while using public toilets, as well as a peace-of-mind in knowing the extra measures that have been taken

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the growing field of antibacterial,anti-fungal wet-paper products and the growing demand for sanitarytoilet products. “Anti-Bacterial Wet-Paper Shield Toilet Seat Covers”were developed to fulfill the need for a convenient product that wouldpromote the sanitary use of public toilets. This product expands the useand application of anti-bacterial, anti-fungal wet wipe products to thepublic toilet industry.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

While working as a Concert Tour Manager in the music business much ofour travelling was by bus. Whenever we would pull into a rest stop area,we found that we shared the rest room facilities with thousands of othertravelers. There were constant complaints, particularly from the womenin our entourage, about the toilets at these rest stops, that they werehighly unsanitary, and one sat down at the risk of being exposed to acontaminated surface. Many of the women would squat over the toilet in ahorse-stance posture, so as to avoid making skin contact with the toiletseat surface. Others who were unable to maintain the horse-stanceposture while answering the call of nature, would opt to spread toiletpaper or paper hand towels on the toilet seat so as to create aprotective barrier between their bare skin and the toilet seat surface.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

In public toilets there generally is no protection available for anyoneneeding to sit down to answer the call of nature. One would have to relyon there being enough toilet paper on hand to fashion a protectivebarrier between the toilet seat and the bare skin of the user. In somerest stops, however, there are available, dry-tissue paper toilet seatcovers that are housed in a dispenser on the wall inside the toiletbooth. These dry-tissue seat covers, when available, tend to be veryflimsy, easily torn, and begin to disintegrate once they become wet. Forexample: flushing the toilet during a bowel movement causes thedry-tissue seat covers to become wet from the spray of water in thetoilet bowl. Several flushes later and there may be nothing left of thedry-tissue seat cover, or it will be soaked in toilet water, exposingthe user to possible infection through direct skin contact with bacteriaand other such microbes that inhabit public toilets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Anti-Bacterial Wet-Paper Shield toilet seat covers are manufactured fromnon-woven cloth, a much stronger and more far more robust toilet seatcover. These wet-paper shields are treated with Kathon CG, ananti-bacterial, anti-fungal solution, used in most water-based personalcare products, and are used in concert with the soft vinyl-mat toiletseat cover (FIG. 4, FIG. 6) so that the user sits comfortably upon thevinyl-mat seat cover feeling no wetness. This use of the Anti-BacterialWet-Paper Shield toilet Seat Covers provides the user a double-layer ofprotection, a physical layer of protection against direct skin contactwith what may be a contaminated public toilet-seat surface in a publicrestroom, and also a psychological layer of protection and peace-of-mindwhile using a public toilet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the view of a deployed Anti-Bacterial Wet-PaperShield Toilet Seat Cover. The dimensions are those of a standard-sizetoilet seat, i.e., 13″×15″ with a cut-out tab left intact for easydisposal after use. The center cut-out over the toilet bowl measures8″×9″ and the cut-out tab is exactly that size, having been cut from thecloth.

FIG. 2 is the size of a ¼ folded wet-paper shield toilet seat cover. The13″×15″ seat cover folds into the 3″×5″ fold depicted in the drawing.

FIG. 3 illustrates the size of the polyethylene bag that the wet-papershield toilet seat cover comes wrapped in, i.e., 3¼″×6½″. This bag issealed and will preserve the wet-paper shield for two years.

FIG. 4 illustrates the Soft Vinyl Cushion Seat Cover that is to be usedwith the anti-bacterial wet-paper shield toilet seat covers. It is softand can be ¼ folded for easy transport in the carry pouch, in abriefcase, or in a purse. It is reusable and serves to provide forcomfortable use of the wet-paper shields. You don't' feel the wetness.

FIG. 5 illustrates the approximate size of the Soft Vinyl Seat Cushionwhen ¼ folded for storage in the carry pouch. It measures 5½″×7⅜″ whenthus folded.

FIG. 6 illustrates how the Anti-Bacterial Wet-Paper Shield Toilet SeatCovers are to be used with the Soft Vinyl Seat Cushion.

FIG. 7 illustrates the convenient Carry Pouch where the Soft Vinyl SeatCushion and the Anti-Bacterial Wet-Paper Shied Toilet Seat Covers arestored in zippered compartments until they are needed. The carry pouchmeasures 12″×6″ and can be conveniently worn around the waist as it hasan attached waist strap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

How the Invention Works. Anti-Bacterial Wet-Paper Shield Toilet SeatCovers {See FIGS. 1, 2 & 3} are machined milled to fit neatly over anystandard sized toilet seat. Unfolded they measure 15″×13″ with an innercut-out area over the toilet bowl that measures 8″×9.″ The cut-out tabis left intact. This part hangs outside the toilet bowl and serves as ahandle to lift the wet paper shield off the toilet seat to discard intothe trash after use. The wet paper shields come ¼ folded and shrinkwrapped in a polyethylene bag to preserve the wet freshness, are easy tocarry in a purse, in a brief case, or in the convenient carry pouch {SeeFIG. 7}. The Active Ingredient: Kathon CG, consists of PurifiedWater—99.65%, Plant Spices—0.2%, Methylchlorisothiazolinone & DeionizedWater—0.15%. The ¼-folded wet-paper shield wrapped in the poly bagmeasures 6½″×3½″×⅛″ for easy storage. The wet-paper shields are “useonce, throw away.” 1) To facilitate the use of the Anti-BacterialWet-Paper Shield toilet seat covers, the soft vinyl-mat toilet seatcushion is used {FIG. 4}. This vinyl-seat cushion measures 13″×15″×⅛″and has a cut-out hole measuring 8″×9″ for toilet bowl access. It isnon-slip and is placed directly on top of the deployed wet-paper shield,providing comfort as well as added protection, both physical andpsychological, even shielding the user from feeling the dampness of thewet-paper shield while in use {FIG. 6, Steps 1, 2, & 3}.

This vinyl-mat seat cushion is soft and pliable and can be ¼-folded tofit neatly inside a purse, a briefcase, or inside a zippered pocket ofthe carry pouch {FIG. 5 & FIG. 7} depending on what is convenient to theuser. 2) Both the Anti-Bacterial Wet-Paper Shield Toilet Seat Covers{FIG. 1}, and the accompanying Soft Vinyl-Seat Cushion {FIG. 4}, when¼-folded {FIG. 3 & FIG. 5} fit conveniently into their respectivezippered compartments in the carry pouch {FIG. 7}, which for addedconvenience can also carry a supply of toilet paper, just in case. Theseitems used together function as a convenient travel kit. 3) Byfollowing, steps 1, 2, & 3 of FIG. 6, anyone can easily avail themselvesthe protection of Anti-Bacterial Wet-Paper Shield Toilet Seat Covers,for comfortable, safe and sanitary use of public toilets.

1. Anti-Bacterial Wet-Paper Shield Toilet Seat Covers are the answer toconcerns about the sanitary use of public restrooms. It is well knownthat it is possible to contract Hepatitis-A from a public bathroom. Youcan come into direct contact with traces of the stool, blood, or urineof an infected person. Since a person, such as a restaurant worker, withHepatitis-A who does not wash his/her hands properly after using thebathroom, and who subsequently handles food or other objects cancontaminate the food and objects, it makes good sense to be on guardagainst contamination while using a bathroom that may have been used bysuch a person. A person who is infected with Hepatitis-A or otherdiseases can easily pass the disease on to others who share the samespace. While you are away from home, whether at work, at school,shopping, attending a sporting event, at a picnic, travelling, or simplystrolling through the park, when nature calls you must answer the call.So without giving it a second thought you head straight away for thenearest restroom. Can you be certain that the public restroom you findis sanitary? Will you be safe from infection while using it? Given therecent proliferation of infections resulting from skin-contact withunsanitary surfaces, you cannot be too careful. Why take a chance? Whenused as instructed, Anti-Bacterial Wet-Paper Shield Toilet Seat Coversform an effective barrier against direct skin contact with bacteria,fungi, other germs, and parasites that pose a threat to your health.